Geography & Environmental Studies, BA

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Geography and Environmental Studies (GES) is to provide students with an understanding of the discipline of geography. This includes courses in physical, human, and cultural geography. Additionally, it offers a wide range of methods courses that introduce students to geographical information science and technologies(GIS&T). 

High-achieving students will have the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Geography in an accelerated format. Our Accelerated Master's Pathway (AMP) enables eligible UCCS Geography and Environmental Studies (GES) majors to complete both degrees in a streamlined manner within five+ years. 

GES features award-winning faculty with diverse interests that create high-impact learning opportunities for students in inclusive, small-group settings, both inside and outside the classroom. GES is one of UCCS’ ‘Unique and High-Need Programs.’ GES offers minors in GES, Geology, and Sustainability, and a certificate in GIScience. Program faculty offer a range of diverse research interests and run four on-campus labs.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Geography and Environmental Studies requires the following:

• A minimum of 41 credit hours of GES coursework. At least 18 of those hours must be upper division (courses numbered 3000 or higher).
• A grade of C- or better in courses applied to the major.
• A minimum 2.0 GPA must be maintained in all GES course work.
• No more than 60 credit hours of GES course work may apply to the bachelor’s degree.

GES majors must take 41 credit hours of GES courses - 21 must be upper-division.

2024/2025 GES Program Coursework - UCCS Academic Catalog

Undergraduate Minors:

• GES
• Geology
• Sustainability
• Conservation, Parks, and Outdoor Recreation

Undergraduate Certificates:

• GIScience

Within the undergraduate program, students have the opportunity to participate in an internship program through the UCCS Office of Sustainability. This distinctive program offers students a semester-long service project internship, which proves to be both enriching and rewarding. To learn more, please visit the Internship page.

GES offers honors for students who have demonstrated high academic achievement. In order to be considered for departmental honors, a student must:

• have an overall CU GPA of 3.0 or better
• have a 3.5 or better GPA in GES courses
• have a research proposal approved by a GES faculty advisor and select a committee of two other faculty
• enroll in GES 4970 (Honors in Geography)
• complete an oral exam on a research project

The level of honors will be decided by committee after the completion of the requirements. Three levels of honors are available: Distinction, High Distinction, and Highest Distinction.

Accelerated Master’s Pathway in GES

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The GES AMP provides high-achieving students with the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Geography in an accelerated format. This program allows eligible UCCS GES majors to complete both degrees in a streamlined manner within five+ years. The GES AMP belongs to the UCCS Accelerated Master’s Pathway (https://graduateschool.uccs.edu/academics/amp).

Students interested in the Accelerated Master’s Pathway (AMP) should schedule a meeting with the Graduate Director, Dr. Dao (tdao@uccs.edu) to discuss the program details and confirm their eligibility (refer to the criteria listed above).

BENEFITS

The GES AMP program enables current GES students to enroll in graduate-level courses while completing their Bachelor’s degree. This program allows the credits from the graduate-level courses to count toward both degrees. Undergraduate students can take up to three graduate-level courses (equivalent to a maximum of 9 semester credits) during their undergraduate studies. Moreover, undergraduate students who are enrolled in graduate courses through the AMP program will pay the undergraduate tuition rate for these courses until they receive their Bachelor’s degree.

QUALIFICATION CRITERIA

To qualify, current UCCS GES majors must meet the following criteria:

1. A minimum 3.5 overall GPA and at least a 3.50 GPA in the major.
2. Completed the UCCS general education requirements or submitted a plan for completion.
3. Completed at least 72 semester credit hours at UCCS.
4. Transfer students must have completed at least 20 credit hours of Geography & Environmental Studies courses at UCCS and be a declared Geography & Environmental Studies major before applying to the Accelerated Program.

ADMISSION PROCEDURE

Further details on application requirements can be found on the UCCS Graduate School: Steps to Apply to AMP (https://graduateschool.uccs.edu/academics/amp#steps-to-applying-to-amp).

Stage 1: Becoming an undergraduate AMP student

In their junior year, interested and qualified students should submit an AMP application package to the GES Graduate Director for review. The Undergraduate AMP application package must include the following:

1. A completed AMP Intent application form to Graduate School. This form is available here. While it does not grant admission to the Graduate School, it indicates that you currently intend to and are eligible to begin taking dual-counting courses during your bachelor's degree.

2. A completed GES AMP application package to the GES Graduate Director. The application package must include:

   a)    A compelling personal statement outlining your academic goals for pursuing the AMP program.
   b)    Your chosen GES subfield of focus for your AMP academic plan, which will guide your selection of graduate-level courses and your MA academic advisor.
   c)    An academic plan that includes your future graduate-level courses and an estimated timeline for your future coursework and MA thesis work.
   d)    Two letters of recommendation from faculty members within the UCCS Department of Geography & Environmental Studies.
   e)    Unofficial transcripts. 

NOTES:

• Stage 1 applications will be accepted until the first semester of your senior year. The deadlines for submission are November 1st for spring admission and April 1st for fall admission. If accepted, students can plan to take their first dual-counted 5000-level course in the following semester.

• Once students submit their stage 1 application and are accepted, they must complete at least one and up to three 5000-level graduate courses as undergraduates, with a minimum grade of B in each course while maintaining a minimum overall GPA of 3.50. The selection of their courses is subject to the Graduate Director's approval. Failing to maintain a 3.5 overall GPA at the end of stage 1 automatically dismissed students from the AMP status. 

• Students who are not initially admitted to the AMP can reapply after completing twelve additional semester credit hours.

Stage 2: Complete your undergraduate degree and apply to graduate school

During their senior year, undergraduate AMP students are required to submit an official application for the Graduate School, which includes a $60 application fee. They must also participate in a review process to gain admission to the GES MA program. Admission to the AMP program is competitive. Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

    1.    Grade point average (cumulative and major GPA).
    2.    Grade trend (improving, consistent, or declining).
    3.    Likelihood of success and persistence based on the Statement of Intent.
    4.    Recommendation letters. 

Applications to graduate school for AMP students follow a streamlined standard, which requires one letter of recommendation, a goal statement, and a copy of the transcripts. Also, follow these instructions to select AMP on the graduate application. 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Geography and Environmental Studies requires the following:

1.    Complete all UCCS Compass and College of LAS General Education requirements.
2.    Complete a minimum of 41 credit hours of GES coursework. At least 18 of those hours must be upper division (courses numbered 3000 or higher).
3.    Obtain a grade of C- or better in courses applied to the major.
4.     Maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA must be maintained in all GES coursework.
5.    No more than 60 credit hours of GES coursework may apply to the bachelor’s degree.

The Master of Arts (MA) degree in Applied Geography requires 24 credit hours of coursework, 6 credit hours of thesis, and successfully defend a thesis.

All graduate students are required to take:

• GES 5770: History & Nature of Geography (3 credit hours)
• GES 5010: Geographic Research Seminar (3 credit hours)
• GES 5000: Quantitative Methods (4 credit hours).  Students who have taken an upper-division statistics course during their undergraduate career may request a waiver for the GES 5000 requirement)
• GES 7000: Master’s Thesis (6 credit hours)​
• GES 6000: Graduate Forum on Geographic Research & Professional Development (2 x 1-credit). This requirement applies to students who begin the program in Fall 2025 or later. Students must complete 1 credit of GES 6000 in the program's first semester and fulfill the second credit at a later time during their program.
• Students will choose 5000-level courses to complete the remaining credit hours. Students may choose to do up to six credit hours of Independent Study (GES 9600) and up to three credit hours of Professional Experience (GES 4980). A maximum of six credits taught by Graduate Faculty from outside of the GES department may count towards the MA degree.
• Graduate students are required to submit a thesis. To view past thesis projects, click here.
• To remain in good academic standing in the Graduate School and to receive a graduate degree, a student is required to maintain at least a B (3.0) graduate program grade point average.
• Any graduate-level course applied to the BA degree must have a grade of C or better; Dual-count courses applied to a master’s degree must have a grade of B or better.
• Follow our MA Applied Geography Program for the most updates on policies and requirements
• The GES BA program follows the official policies and procedures of the UCCS Graduate School (https://graduateschool.uccs.edu/current-student-resources/policies-procedures) and the most updated UCCS catalog for graduate school coursework requirements (https://catalog.uccs.edu/).

The GES AMP allows students to count up to 9-semester credits towards both the Bachelor of Arts in Geography & Environmental Studies and the Master of Arts programs. In order for credit to be double-counted, the following conditions must be met:

•    Dual credit courses must be taken in the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies at UCCS.
•    Dual credit courses are approved by the Graduate Director of Geography & Environmental Studies.
•    Dual credit courses must be taken for graduate credit (5000-level).
•    Dual credit courses must be completed with a B or better. 

DROPPING OUT OF THE GES AMP
Students who drop out OR are dismissed from the AMP will be eligible to complete their bachelor’s degree, subject to the normal rules of that program. They will be eligible to apply to the master’s program and transfer credits, subject to the normal limitations of the BA and MA degree. They will not be allowed to double count 5000-level courses that were taken at the undergraduate level.